Next time I change my phone, I’ll look into it (and probably choose it for that purpose). I don’t want to risk ditching official support on this one just yet.
Google aside, I chose a phone that comes relatively crap-free.
You don’t need to do anything wild to stop using Chrome on your Android phone! I have a stock ROM too, and I’ve got plenty of options for more private Chrome (and Firefox!) forks. Depending on what you use on your desktop, there’s probably an equally private equivalent for your phone.
Desktop Firefox? Mobile Firefox. With bookmark sync.
Desktop Waterfox? Mobile Waterfox! Or Fennec or IronFox for something more private.
Desktop Brave? Mobile Brave.
Desktop Chromium? Cromite is great. It even has a little ad blocking now.
Problem is, on a stock android you can’t remove chrome, only hide it. So my point is, if they decide to force the model download on a chrome update, even if you never use it, it’ll still ruin a good chunk of your storage space.
Your phone doesn’t let you uninstall updates and disable the app?! I’ve had good luck with that, and if it didn’t work I would try Shizuku next, but YMMV depending on the phone model…
They don’t have to implement this through chrome if you have a device that runs the Gemini app. I saw a comment on another thread that said the AI Core app for Gemini will take up like 4-12GB of storage or something like that.
I haven’t had desktop chrome for quite some time, and I certainly never will again after that.
But I certainly hope they are not planning to push that shit on android. Leave my fucking storage alone, google
If applicable: Why not ditch mobile Chrome too? There are plenty of decent forks that eliminate Google crap on them too.
Next time I change my phone, I’ll look into it (and probably choose it for that purpose). I don’t want to risk ditching official support on this one just yet.
Google aside, I chose a phone that comes relatively crap-free.
You don’t need to do anything wild to stop using Chrome on your Android phone! I have a stock ROM too, and I’ve got plenty of options for more private Chrome (and Firefox!) forks. Depending on what you use on your desktop, there’s probably an equally private equivalent for your phone.
I can’t believe people still use chrome I can’t stand ads or not being able to play videos in the background.
I have stopped using chrome on mobile too.
Problem is, on a stock android you can’t remove chrome, only hide it. So my point is, if they decide to force the model download on a chrome update, even if you never use it, it’ll still ruin a good chunk of your storage space.
Your phone doesn’t let you uninstall updates and disable the app?! I’ve had good luck with that, and if it didn’t work I would try Shizuku next, but YMMV depending on the phone model…
They don’t have to implement this through chrome if you have a device that runs the Gemini app. I saw a comment on another thread that said the AI Core app for Gemini will take up like 4-12GB of storage or something like that.
At least gemini isn’t a forced install… on my device it isn’t, in any case. I sure hope it stays that way.
I believe it is on pixel unless you completely opt out when you set up the device but don’t quote me on that.